Class (TV series): Difference between revisions
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|bts = Patrick Ness Introduces Class | |bts = Patrick Ness Introduces Class | ||
|bts2 = Meeting The Class Cast - Doctor Who The Fan Show | |bts2 = Meeting The Class Cast - Doctor Who The Fan Show | ||
|publisher2=Captive Escape Rooms & Space|publisher3=BBC Books|publisher4=Big Finish Productions}}{{Big toc}} | |publisher2 = Captive Escape Rooms & Space|publisher3=BBC Books|publisher4=Big Finish Productions}}{{Big toc}} | ||
'''''Class''''' was a multi-media [[Doctor Who spin-offs|spin-off]] series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', co-produced by [[BBC Wales]] and [[BBC America]]<ref name="BBCA" >https://twitter.com/bbcamerica/status/760575939642294272</ref> for digital television station [[BBC Three]] and BBC America<ref name="BBCA" />. It was announced on [[1 October (production)|1 October]] [[2015 (production)|2015]]. ''Class'' was aimed specifically at a young adult audience and contained sexual content, violence and language above the level allowed on the parent series. ''Class'' was the first [[BBC]]-produced ''Doctor Who'' spin-off series since ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' ended in [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. | '''''Class''''' was a multi-media [[Doctor Who spin-offs|spin-off]] series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', co-produced by [[BBC Wales]] and [[BBC America]]<ref name="BBCA" >https://twitter.com/bbcamerica/status/760575939642294272</ref> for digital television station [[BBC Three]] and BBC America<ref name="BBCA" />. It was announced on [[1 October (production)|1 October]] [[2015 (production)|2015]]. ''Class'' was aimed specifically at a young adult audience and contained sexual content, violence and language above the level allowed on the parent series. ''Class'' was the first [[BBC]]-produced ''Doctor Who'' spin-off series since ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' ended in [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. | ||
Created by [[Patrick Ness]], who was also the sole writer, ''Class'' took place in [[ | Created by [[Patrick Ness]], who was also the sole writer, ''Class'' took place in [[Coal Hill Academy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/953c5b1f-3cc8-4db9-8184-f1b6567260f1|title=Doctor Who Spin Off: Class|author=The Doctor Who Team|date of source=1 October 2015|website name=BBC Doctor Who|accessdate=5 October 2015}}</ref> (formerly Coal Hill School) which first appeared in [[An Unearthly Child (episode)|''Doctor Who''{{'}}s very first episode]] as the school [[Susan Foreman|Susan]] attended in [[1963]]. Coal Hill had also been a recurring location during [[Series 8 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 8]] and [[Series 9 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 9]], as the school where [[Clara Oswald]] and [[Danny Pink]] both worked as teachers and the [[Twelfth Doctor]] briefly [[The Caretaker (TV story)|worked as a caretaker]] whilst under "deep cover". | ||
''Class'' was first released on BBC Three's streaming service on [[22 October (releases)|22 October]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]]. (Though, this was predated by the performance run of an escape room - [[It Must Be Survived (escape game)| | ''Class'' was first released on BBC Three's streaming service on [[22 October (releases)|22 October]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]]. (Though, this was predated by the performance run of an escape room - ''[[It Must Be Survived (escape game)|It Must Be Survived]]'' - in [[Canada]], where the spin-off aired on the ''[[Space (TV channel)|Space]]'' channel<ref>http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-spin-off-class-finds-a-canadian-broadcaster</ref>, from [[15 October (releases)|15 October]] to [[23 October (releases)|23 October]] [[2016 (releases)|2016]].) | ||
A [[BBC One]] broadcast of the show would follow the iPlayer release, in January 2017. [[Australia]] aired it on [[ABC2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.press.abc.net.au/prepare-yourselves-class-is-coming-to-abc2-and-iview|title=Prepare yourselves, Class is coming to ABC2 and iview|date of source=26 September 2016|website name=ABC Media Room}}</ref> | A [[BBC One]] broadcast of the show would follow the iPlayer release, in [[January (releases)|January]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]]. [[Australia]] aired it on [[ABC2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tv.press.abc.net.au/prepare-yourselves-class-is-coming-to-abc2-and-iview|title=Prepare yourselves, Class is coming to ABC2 and iview|date of source=26 September 2016|website name=ABC Media Room}}</ref> | ||
''Class'' was in many aspects similar to its sister spin-off series ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' as well as [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 5]] of its mother series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', in which "the boundaries of space-time have been stretched to breaking point, allowing all manner of creatures through." However, Ness pointed out that "We're not telling stories of the 'chosen ones'." and that "It's happenstance that puts these people [at the centre of things]. What if your timing is just weird and things happen to you? How do you deal with it? I'm interested in real consequences. The Doctor is always exciting, but he never [stays]. He goes off on the next adventure. What happens to real people?"<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-08-24/the-premise-for-doctor-who-spin-off-class-is-basically-torchwood</ref> | ''Class'' was in many aspects similar to its sister spin-off series ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' as well as [[Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 5]] of its mother series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', in which "the boundaries of space-time have been stretched to breaking point, allowing all manner of creatures through." However, Ness pointed out that "We're not telling stories of the 'chosen ones'." and that "It's happenstance that puts these people [at the centre of things]. What if your timing is just weird and things happen to you? How do you deal with it? I'm interested in real consequences. The Doctor is always exciting, but he never [stays]. He goes off on the next adventure. What happens to real people?"<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-08-24/the-premise-for-doctor-who-spin-off-class-is-basically-torchwood</ref> | ||
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== Production == | == Production == | ||
''Class'' originated from discussions between [[Steven Moffat]] and [[Brian Minchin]] about potential spinoffs. Minchin expressed his interest in discussing the idea that they had in mind with Ness. According to Steven Moffat, when interviewed by DigitalSpy, "he came in. And completely changed the idea, really. To, in my view, a much better one." <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6nP_K8bFK0</ref> | ''Class'' originated from discussions between [[Steven Moffat]] and [[Brian Minchin]] about potential spinoffs. Minchin expressed his interest in discussing the idea that they had in mind with Ness. According to Steven Moffat, when interviewed by DigitalSpy, "he came in. And completely changed the idea, really. To, in my view, a much better one."<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6nP_K8bFK0</ref> | ||
Ness, however, related to Radio Times, on 29 July 2016, that the idea for ''Class'' had started from the rejection of a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode; "At first they asked me to write an episode of ''Doctor Who'', and I said it's a brilliant show, but I've just spent so much time doing work for other people, and I really want to do something of my own. And they said, well we have this idea for setting a spin-off in a school. And it was like, 'ding'! It's been fantastic, I've got six weeks of filming to go. The cast are great, and it's been a fantastic experience. I can't wait for you to see it. Fingers crossed! It's going well."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-07-29/doctor-who-spin-off-class-started-with-a-rejected-who-episode#</ref> | Ness, however, related to Radio Times, on 29 July 2016, that the idea for ''Class'' had started from the rejection of a ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode; "At first they asked me to write an episode of ''Doctor Who'', and I said it's a brilliant show, but I've just spent so much time doing work for other people, and I really want to do something of my own. And they said, well we have this idea for setting a spin-off in a school. And it was like, 'ding'! It's been fantastic, I've got six weeks of filming to go. The cast are great, and it's been a fantastic experience. I can't wait for you to see it. Fingers crossed! It's going well."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-07-29/doctor-who-spin-off-class-started-with-a-rejected-who-episode#</ref> | ||
In an interview for [[ | In an interview for ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[DWM 502|#502]], Steven Moffat told: "My boys are both teenagers, of course, so I'm quite excited to see what they'll make of ''Class'', which has a lot of great stuff for that age group. Well, for every age group, but thanks to Patrick Ness, it captures that teenage world with great poignancy and wit.<ref>https://twitter.com/class_updates/status/758269922023731201</ref> | ||
On 13 June 2016, a bit earlier than scheduled, Ness revealed the lead would be a gay character who has a boyfriend, whom he kisses, sleeps with and loves. Ness told that given the recent {{w|Orlando Nightclub Shooting|Orlando shootings}}, riots caused by homophobia, over the weekend, it seemed less important to keep that a secret.<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-13/doctor-who-spin-off-class-will-have-an-lgbt-lead-character</ref> | On [[13 June (releases)|13 June]] 2016, a bit earlier than scheduled, Ness revealed the lead would be a gay character who has a boyfriend, whom he kisses, sleeps with and loves. Ness told that given the recent {{w|Orlando Nightclub Shooting|Orlando shootings}}, riots caused by [[homophobia]], over the weekend, it seemed less important to keep that a secret.<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-13/doctor-who-spin-off-class-will-have-an-lgbt-lead-character</ref> | ||
== Cancellation == | == Cancellation == | ||
On 4 June 2017, Patrick Ness announced that the future of the series was uncertain, and that even if it were to be renewed he would not be taking part. <ref>http://www.ibtimes.com/class-canceled-or-renewed-patrick-ness-exits-doctor-who-spinoff-2547603</ref> <ref>https://twitter.com/Patrick_Ness/status/871256325166071808</ref> | On [[4 June (production)|4 June]] [[2017 (production)|2017]], Patrick Ness announced that the future of the series was uncertain, and that even if it were to be renewed he would not be taking part.<ref>http://www.ibtimes.com/class-canceled-or-renewed-patrick-ness-exits-doctor-who-spinoff-2547603</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/Patrick_Ness/status/871256325166071808</ref> | ||
On 7 September 2017, [[Radio Times]] spoke to [[BBC3]] controller [[Damian Kavanagh]] about a future return of ''Class'', in which Kavanagh said: "No, no. There was nothing wrong with it, I thought Patrick [Ness] did a great job, he explored an amazing world. In honesty it didn’t really land for us on BBC3; some shows don't and I have to make decisions about what we’re going to do from a drama point of view, and what we did after ''Class'' was ''Clique'' which worked really well for us."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-09-07/doctor-who-spin-off-class-cancelled/</ref> | On [[7 September (releases)|7 September]] 2017, [[Radio Times]] spoke to [[BBC3]] controller [[Damian Kavanagh]] about a future return of ''Class'', in which Kavanagh said: "No, no. There was nothing wrong with it, I thought Patrick [Ness] did a great job, he explored an amazing world. In honesty it didn’t really land for us on BBC3; some shows don't and I have to make decisions about what we’re going to do from a drama point of view, and what we did after ''Class'' was ''Clique'' which worked really well for us."<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-09-07/doctor-who-spin-off-class-cancelled/</ref> | ||
== Expanded media == | == Expanded media == | ||
=== Escape room === | === Escape room === | ||
''To be added.'' | ''To be added.'' | ||
| Line 77: | Line 76: | ||
* ''[[The Stone House (novel)|The Stone House]]'' by [[A.K. Benedict]] | * ''[[The Stone House (novel)|The Stone House]]'' by [[A.K. Benedict]] | ||
* ''[[What She Does Next Will Astound You (novel)|What She Does Next Will Astound You]]'' by [[James Goss]] | * ''[[What She Does Next Will Astound You (novel)|What She Does Next Will Astound You]]'' by [[James Goss]] | ||
In the US, they were instead released as follows: [[7 March (releases)|7 March]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]] (''The Stone House''), [[3 October (releases)|3 October]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]] (''Joyride'') and [[6 March (releases)|6 March]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]] (''What She Does Next Will Astound You''). | In the US, they were instead released as follows: [[7 March (releases)|7 March]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]] (''The Stone House''), [[3 October (releases)|3 October]] [[2017 (releases)|2017]] (''Joyride'') and [[6 March (releases)|6 March]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]] (''What She Does Next Will Astound You''). | ||
=== Audios === | === Audios === | ||
In 2018, it was announced that [[Big Finish]] would be producing ''[[Class: The Audio Adventures]]'' - audio stories set during Series 1 - and would be releasing two volumes of audio stories starring the cast of ''Class''. These first two volumes were released [[21 August (releases)|21 August]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]], and contained the following stories: | In [[2018 (releases)|2018]], it was announced that [[Big Finish]] would be producing ''[[Class: The Audio Adventures]]'' - audio stories set during Series 1 - and would be releasing two volumes of audio stories starring the cast of ''Class''. These first two volumes were released [[21 August (releases)|21 August]] [[2018 (releases)|2018]], and contained the following stories: | ||
*''[[Gifted (audio story)|Gifted]]'' by [[Roy Gill]] | * ''[[Gifted (audio story)|Gifted]]'' by [[Roy Gill]] | ||
* ''[[Life Experience (audio story)|Life Experience]]'' by [[Jenny T Colgan]] | * ''[[Life Experience (audio story)|Life Experience]]'' by [[Jenny T Colgan]] | ||
* ''[[Tell Me You Love Me (audio story)|Tell Me You Love Me]]'' by [[Scott Handcock]] | * ''[[Tell Me You Love Me (audio story)|Tell Me You Love Me]]'' by [[Scott Handcock]] | ||
| Line 89: | Line 89: | ||
* ''[[In Remembrance (audio story)|In Remembrance]]'' by [[Guy Adams]] | * ''[[In Remembrance (audio story)|In Remembrance]]'' by [[Guy Adams]] | ||
A further two volumes - also set during Series 1, as per agreed licensing - were announced in 2019. They were then released [[28 April (releases)|28 April]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]], and contained the following stories: | A further two volumes - also set during Series 1, as per agreed licensing - were announced in [[2019 (releases)|2019]]. They were then released [[28 April (releases)|28 April]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]], and contained the following stories: | ||
*''[[The Soers' Ditch (audio story)|The Soers' Ditch]]'' by [[Carl Rowens]] | * ''[[The Soers' Ditch (audio story)|The Soers' Ditch]]'' by [[Carl Rowens]] | ||
* ''[[Catfish (audio story)|Catfish]]'' by [[Kate Thorman]] | * ''[[Catfish (audio story)|Catfish]]'' by [[Kate Thorman]] | ||
* ''[[Sweet Nothings (audio story)|Sweet Nothings]]'' by [[Michael Dennis]] | * ''[[Sweet Nothings (audio story)|Sweet Nothings]]'' by [[Michael Dennis]] | ||
Revision as of 09:58, 23 October 2024
Class (series), as this article has since expanded to cover Class across other media beyond the TV series
Talk about it here.
Class was a multi-media spin-off series of Doctor Who, co-produced by BBC Wales and BBC America[1] for digital television station BBC Three and BBC America[1]. It was announced on 1 October 2015. Class was aimed specifically at a young adult audience and contained sexual content, violence and language above the level allowed on the parent series. Class was the first BBC-produced Doctor Who spin-off series since The Sarah Jane Adventures ended in 2011.
Created by Patrick Ness, who was also the sole writer, Class took place in Coal Hill Academy,[2] (formerly Coal Hill School) which first appeared in Doctor Who's very first episode as the school Susan attended in 1963. Coal Hill had also been a recurring location during series 8 and series 9, as the school where Clara Oswald and Danny Pink both worked as teachers and the Twelfth Doctor briefly worked as a caretaker whilst under "deep cover".
Class was first released on BBC Three's streaming service on 22 October 2016. (Though, this was predated by the performance run of an escape room - It Must Be Survived - in Canada, where the spin-off aired on the Space channel[3], from 15 October to 23 October 2016.)
A BBC One broadcast of the show would follow the iPlayer release, in January 2017. Australia aired it on ABC2.[4]
Class was in many aspects similar to its sister spin-off series Torchwood as well as series 5 of its mother series Doctor Who, in which "the boundaries of space-time have been stretched to breaking point, allowing all manner of creatures through." However, Ness pointed out that "We're not telling stories of the 'chosen ones'." and that "It's happenstance that puts these people [at the centre of things]. What if your timing is just weird and things happen to you? How do you deal with it? I'm interested in real consequences. The Doctor is always exciting, but he never [stays]. He goes off on the next adventure. What happens to real people?"[5]
Cast
Main cast
- Charlie Smith - Greg Austin
- April MacLean - Sophie Hopkins
- Ram Singh - Fady Elsayed
- Tanya Adeola - Vivian Oparah
- Matteusz Andrzejewski - Jordan Renzo
- Miss Quill - Katherine Kelly
Secondary cast
- Corakinus - Paul Marc Davies
- The Twelfth Doctor - Peter Capaldi
- Mr Armitage - Nigel Betts
- Vivian Adeola - Natasha Gordon
- Varun Singh - Aaron Neil
- Jackie MacLean - Shannon Murray
- Dorothea Ames - Pooky Quesnel
- Chair of the Governors - Cyril Nri
Television stories
Series 1 - 2016
- Main article: Series 1 (Class)
Series 2 - unproduced
- Main article: Series 2 (Class)
Production
Class originated from discussions between Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin about potential spinoffs. Minchin expressed his interest in discussing the idea that they had in mind with Ness. According to Steven Moffat, when interviewed by DigitalSpy, "he came in. And completely changed the idea, really. To, in my view, a much better one."[6]
Ness, however, related to Radio Times, on 29 July 2016, that the idea for Class had started from the rejection of a Doctor Who episode; "At first they asked me to write an episode of Doctor Who, and I said it's a brilliant show, but I've just spent so much time doing work for other people, and I really want to do something of my own. And they said, well we have this idea for setting a spin-off in a school. And it was like, 'ding'! It's been fantastic, I've got six weeks of filming to go. The cast are great, and it's been a fantastic experience. I can't wait for you to see it. Fingers crossed! It's going well."[7]
In an interview for Doctor Who Magazine #502, Steven Moffat told: "My boys are both teenagers, of course, so I'm quite excited to see what they'll make of Class, which has a lot of great stuff for that age group. Well, for every age group, but thanks to Patrick Ness, it captures that teenage world with great poignancy and wit.[8]
On 13 June 2016, a bit earlier than scheduled, Ness revealed the lead would be a gay character who has a boyfriend, whom he kisses, sleeps with and loves. Ness told that given the recent Orlando shootings, riots caused by homophobia, over the weekend, it seemed less important to keep that a secret.[9]
Cancellation
On 4 June 2017, Patrick Ness announced that the future of the series was uncertain, and that even if it were to be renewed he would not be taking part.[10][11]
On 7 September 2017, Radio Times spoke to BBC3 controller Damian Kavanagh about a future return of Class, in which Kavanagh said: "No, no. There was nothing wrong with it, I thought Patrick [Ness] did a great job, he explored an amazing world. In honesty it didn’t really land for us on BBC3; some shows don't and I have to make decisions about what we’re going to do from a drama point of view, and what we did after Class was Clique which worked really well for us."[12]
Expanded media
Escape room
To be added.
Novels
Three books set during series 1 were released in the UK on 27 October 2016:
- Joyride by Guy Adams
- The Stone House by A.K. Benedict
- What She Does Next Will Astound You by James Goss
In the US, they were instead released as follows: 7 March 2017 (The Stone House), 3 October 2017 (Joyride) and 6 March 2018 (What She Does Next Will Astound You).
Audios
In 2018, it was announced that Big Finish would be producing Class: The Audio Adventures - audio stories set during Series 1 - and would be releasing two volumes of audio stories starring the cast of Class. These first two volumes were released 21 August 2018, and contained the following stories:
- Gifted by Roy Gill
- Life Experience by Jenny T Colgan
- Tell Me You Love Me by Scott Handcock
- Everybody Loves Reagan by Tim Foley
- Now You Know... by Tim Leng
- In Remembrance by Guy Adams
A further two volumes - also set during Series 1, as per agreed licensing - were announced in 2019. They were then released 28 April 2020, and contained the following stories:
- The Soers' Ditch by Carl Rowens
- Catfish by Kate Thorman
- Sweet Nothings by Michael Dennis
- Mock by Alfie Shaw
- The Creeper by Lizzie Hopley
- Queen of Rhodia by Blair Mowat
Further to be added.
Merchandise
To be added.
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://twitter.com/bbcamerica/status/760575939642294272
- ↑ The Doctor Who Team (1 October 2015). Doctor Who Spin Off: Class. BBC Doctor Who. Retrieved on 5 October 2015.
- ↑ http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-spin-off-class-finds-a-canadian-broadcaster
- ↑ Prepare yourselves, Class is coming to ABC2 and iview. ABC Media Room (26 September 2016).
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-08-24/the-premise-for-doctor-who-spin-off-class-is-basically-torchwood
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6nP_K8bFK0
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-07-29/doctor-who-spin-off-class-started-with-a-rejected-who-episode#
- ↑ https://twitter.com/class_updates/status/758269922023731201
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-06-13/doctor-who-spin-off-class-will-have-an-lgbt-lead-character
- ↑ http://www.ibtimes.com/class-canceled-or-renewed-patrick-ness-exits-doctor-who-spinoff-2547603
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Patrick_Ness/status/871256325166071808
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-09-07/doctor-who-spin-off-class-cancelled/
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